Method of and apparatus for reclaiming oils



' L. D. G RlsBAuM Filed Dec. lf2, 1925 xT kmr. SS

Feb. 3, 1931.

METHOD oF AND APPARATUS Fon RECLAIMING oILs "rsu LEONARD D. GRISBAUM, OF INDIANAPOLIS,

rATEs j 1 INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T RAILWAY SERVICE & SUPPLY CORPORATION, 0F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIAN A, A CORPORATION OF IN- DIANA I Application led .December This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for renovating andv cleaning mineral lubricating oils and is particularly applicable to emulsified oils such as are encountered, for example, in railway car journal lubrication.

The principal object of the invention is to clean and recondition or restore oils of the character described to approximately their l0 original condition so that they Wil'l have all of the properties which itted'them for usevas lubricants.

In this description I will assume that car journal oil is the product being treated and it Will be helpful in appreciating the invention to briefly outline the conditions which gradually bring about the destruction of the lubricating qualities of oil used for this purpose. The journal boxes of railway vehicles are commonly filled with Waste and, because of their rather exposed position and of the carelessness of employees, dust and dirt of onel kind or another together with Water soon Work their way in. Such accumulations, added to the small bits of waste or lint and metal particles which break down in service, and the influence of the heat or burning produced by the constant movement of the journal lin the babbitt or brass of the bearingultimately destroy thev lubricating qualities of the oil. This mixture of oil, dirt and wa.- ter together with the colloidal residue. of burnt or broken down oil developed in use constitute a permanent emulsion which heat,

alone can not break up but which condition, with the improvements herein set forth, I am fully able to meet and overcome.

I counteract the colloid condition and break down the emulsion by mixing the oil to be treated preferably with a solution of' caustic soda although some other counter colloidl might also be used and it is among the objects of my invention to obtain a thorough mixture Without thev use of mechanicalagitation or stirring of any kind. My proc'- ess also provides for a washing of themixture and for greatly increased efficiency and rapidity in separating the impurities from the good oil. My improvement contem- A 5c plates, further, the subsequent dehydration METHOD or AND APPARATUS ron REGLAIMING oILs 12, 1925. Serial No. 74,949.

wardly through a washing solution; acceler'- ated and augmented subsidence after treat-- ment; spraying of the contents of the treatment tank; the interposition of a layer of water between the cleaned oil and the subsided sludge; the utilization of the force of gravity to aid in sepa-rating the impurities from the oil; and the purification of oils containing soaps without removing .the soaps as is now done in certain mechanical processes at present in use. l

I It is also an object of my invention to provide a system whereby large quantities of oil may be charged and cleaned at a time and one which will be substantially continuous for the charge regardless ofthe quantity of dirt which it contains. l

How the foregoing -together with such other incidental objects and advantages as may appear 'hereinafter'are attained by my invention will be more fully appreciated 1n the light ofthe following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which'illustrates in side elevation,- preferred apparatus for carrying out my invention with the parts arranged somewhat diagrammatically for the sake of clearness.

Referring to the illustration, my improved treatment or process tank A has a conical bottom and is surrounded circumferentially by a Water jacket 1` extending from the apexof the cone at the bottom to a point short of the top so as to leave an exposed portion A1. Within this Water jacket 1 is a helical steam heating coil 2 having inlet and outlet at 3 and 4 respectively. Suspended from the top the open end of which is provided with the bell mouth 12 normally closed during a treat ing operation by a vplug 13 which is removed when the time comes for draining 0E the oil as will appear below. The tank A is tipped slightly so that the oil will run toward the bell mouth 12.

The tank A and itsjacket 1 are provided with suitable safety valves 15 and 16.

Pipe 17 connected with the fitting 18 under control of valve 19 is for admissionrof oil to be treated through pipe 20 which enters the tank A at the apex of the cone. Pipe 21 is connected to the fitting 13 and pipe 2O under the control of valve 22, and constitutes the `outlet Jfor subsided dirt particles, used chemicals, etc.

The jacket 1 is iilled from water supply tank C through the pipe connections 26 and valve 23, and maybe drained through the outlet valve 24.

The letter D indicates a washing tank which is supplied with water inlet 27 and outlet 27a. Near its bottom is a circular pipe 28 provided with a multiplicity of upwardly opening outlet holes 29. Connection for treated oil from tank A is made thru pipe of valves 305 and 300.

11, tting 30 and pipe 30a under the control Within the upper portion of tank D is what I have termed a pan-cake heating plate D1 which takes the form of a shallow lhollow cone having Aan opening D2 through its apex. Steam is circulated through it by means of the pipes D3 and D4. The upper part D5 is detachable, as shown, and carries within it the collecting cone D6 set at a slight angle with the low point adjacent the outlet opening D7. In direct communication with the outlet is the color meter 31 which comprises the glass plate 33 over which flows the oil from tank D and beneath which is a suitable light 34.

My improved dehydration process is car ried out in the tank designated by the letter B which has, preferably, a conical portion both at the top and at the bottom. Within the tank is the steam heating coil 35 having the inlet 36 andthe outlet 37. The oil is delivered into the bottom of the tank B Jfrom the color meter 31, through pipe 38, valve 40, fitting 41 and the connection 42. Water may be admitted into the tank B through pipe 43 and the fitting 41. Pipe 44 and valve 45 also connecting with the fitting 41 are used for draining water from tank B, and pipe 46 and valve 47 are used for draining the oil from the tank. A gauge glass 48 is provided on the tank. Inside the upper conical portion of tank B is a baiile plate 49, supported therefrom by brackets 5 0 for preventing the Aoil being treated from entering the pipe 51 which leads to a suitable vacuum pump, not shown. A valve 52 is provided for breaking the vacuum after the treatment.

The operation is as follows:

The water jacket 1 is filled with water when the valve 23 is open forming with tank C and connections 26, an open system subject to atmosphere pressure through vent pipes 54.

Through the opening 7 is introduced into the tank A a solution of caustic soda or other like chemicals and water. By way of example the causticl` may be from 3% to 6% of the oil by weight and may be dissolved in water to form a solution of which the caustic constitutes from 20% to 25% by weight. Steam is turned on in the heating coil 2 rais-v ing the temperature of the water in the acket 1 and 'also of the solution in'tank A to approximately 212o F.

Then the oil is admitted through the connection 17, 19, 13 and 2O into tank A at the bottom as described. The oil rises through the heated solution in the tank and thoroughly mixes therewith. In this way I eliminate the common mechanical agitating or ordinary stirring means for mixing such solutions. When the predetermined amount of oil has been admitted and mixed with the caustic' soda solution, the hole 7 is covered .with the lid 8, the same being firmly bolted 1n position by the brackets and bolts 9 and 10. Valve 23 is then closed and valve 24 opened. Under the influence of the water vapor pressure the water is forced out through the valve 24 till the level is approximately half way up on the straight cylindrical sides of tank A, when the valve 24 is again closed. The temperature of the water in the jacket 1 now rises by virtue of the fact that the jacket is sealed closed and under pressure. The temperature of the oil in tank A, of course, also rises and the oil is maine tained in this condition preferably for about 5 hours. The heating under pressure stimue lates the mixing action. Valve 23 is then opened filling the jacket again and also opening it to atmospheric pressure through vent pipe 54. This reduces the pressure and thus the temperature both in the jacket 1 and tank A to Aapproximately 212o F. vI prefer to maintain this last I condition for about 5 hours more.

L'Ihe pressures in both the tank A and the l jacket 1 are kept within safe limits by means of safety valves 15 and 16, respectively which are set to relieve the pressures if they should oil through the nozzles 6 which are supplied with water through valve 25. This spraying starting from the top there is the clean oil containing traces of chemical and water,- second, the water and third, the sludge. After a sufficient length of time has elapsed for the separation of the three layers, the

plug 13 is removed and the valves 305 and 300 are opened and the oil drawn off'from the surface, the spraying having been continued until the bottom of the oil just reaches the level of the bell mouth 12. The oil then passes through pipe a` and ring-nozzle 28 up through tank D, which has previously been filled with clear hot water' through pipe 27. The oil rises in a greatly broken'up condition and accumulates above the water level y 32. The plate D, is preferably kept heated to about 250o F. and as the rising oil strikes it any lwater which may have been entraine-d Vaporizesand escapes. When it has accu'mulated sutciently to till the space above the water and below the cone D6 it runs over on the outside of cone D6 and down tothe color meter through the opening D7. In this way the oil is againywashed and, except for dehydration, vis generally in condition for reuse. As it passes over the color meter its condition may be inspected. Should the color of the oil and its odor indicate that further washingis necessary, Water is admitted into tank B through connections 43, 41l and 42. and the oil passing from the color meter 31 through -connections 38, and 42 passes up through the water and receives still another washing. When the water has separated from the oil in tank B, which separation may be observed in the gauge glass 48, the water is' drawn oif through valve 45 and outlet 44, and the oil is ready to undergo the dehydrating process.

On the other hand, if the color meter indicates that the oil has been suiiiciently cleaned and is ready for the dehydrating process, it

is passed intoltank B without any water.

When all ofthe clear oil on top of the wash water vand sludge in tank A has passed through vthe tank D and over the color meter 31, the water and sludge remaining in-tank A is stirred or' agitated with any suitable paddle .(not shown)r and then allowed to settle a short period of time. The remaining recoverable oil heldin the sludge and now released, on coming to the' top is drained oli to tank E to be' described just below.

While the major portionlof the good oil imum recovery is desired, no attempt would v ordinarily be made to treat the sludge as just indicated, as the quality of the oil which separates is very poor, containing large quanti-` ties of chemical, dirt and water.

Tank E 1s known as a secondary process or sludge o1l\ treating tank and 1s provided with a heating coil 55, so that the oil may be separated from the water while the oil is accumulating. The comparatively dirty oil as described above accumulates incomparatively small increments'and when suiiicient has been accumulated to be economically run through the washing and the dehydrating tanks D and B, it is subjected to such steps.

Tank E is further provided for the reason that the oil entrained in the sludge of tank A after treatment of a charge of oil must be separated from the entrained dirt and water in a separate tank, in this case tank E. This treatment is ditl'erent than that normally given oil in tank A, as the emulsion .is already broken down and it is only necessary in tank E to separate the water and dirt from the oil. 1f this oil were dumped back into tank A with another batch of oil for treatment, there would accrue an aggregate charge which would be super-saturated with sludge and which would not be responsive to the normal The relative heights of tanks A, D and B are preferably such that theoil will flow from tank A through tank D and into tankB by gravity, thereby eliminatingpumps.

The oil now in tank B andready to be dried or dehydrated is heated by the passage of steam through the coil 35. A vacuum is created above the surface of the oil in tank lB through pipe 51 by some suitable vacuum pump, and, as a result, the moisture in the oil boils ed very rapidly and at a comparatively low temperature. The oil thus dried is new ready for use and is drawn off through connections 42, 41, 47 and 46. The` oil is prevented from rising into the suction pipe '51 as the treatments the oil receives in tank A are much more prolonged than those the oil receives in the tanks D and B. When this is the case connection to the other tank A (not shown) to tank D is made through the T-fitting 30 and under the control of the valve 30d.

To summarize, I wish to point out, in the first instance, that the exposed upper part Al, of the treatment tank A creates a cooler portion in the top which tends to maintain the surface' tension of the mixture and thereby reduce bubbling and agitation, with the result that subsidence is greatly augmented 21nd expedited and, furthermore, takes place at a temperature of substantially 210o F. By thus providing for subsidence Without the necessity of turning off the heat this step can be carried out much more expeditiously and effectively. Furthermore, the construciton of the tank and the use of water in the jacket instead of steam, as heretofore, makes possible a perfect control of the temperature which must not vary to any substantial degree if best results are to be attained.

My improved process obviates the necessity for using any mechanical mixing apparatus since thorough mixing is accomplished by passing the oil 'upwardly through me,

diums of greater specific gravity,y in all stages of the process, treating, washing, etc. Also my improvements in dehydration eleminate mechanical steps and overcome any previous tendency toward the creation of an emulsion at this stage of the process. In short, I have developed a method and provided apparatus which enables me to clean and reclaim much more oil at greatly lessened expense and farl more effectively.

Attention is called to the fact that certain of the subject matter disclosed in this application is disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial Number 210,545, tiled August 4th, 1927, the claims of the present application, however, being directed to other features.

I claim 1. In a method for reclaiming'used 'ournal box lubricating oil by batches in jacketed tank, the steps which include delivering a batch of oil to the tank, mixing the same with a treating agent, filling the jacket with water, sealingthe jacket, withdrawing a portion of the water Without breaking the seal and heating the remaining Water to a temperature in the neighborhood of steam at 0 to 5 lbs. pressure.

2. In a method for reclaiming used journal box lubricating oilby batches in a jack- 'ing a batch of oil to the tank, mixing eted tank the steps, which include deliverthe same with a treating agent, filling the jacket with Water, heating the water to a temperature approximating its boiling point at Yatmospheric pressure, sealing the jacket, discharging a portion of the water without breaking the seal and heating the remaining Waterto a temperature above its -boiling point at latmospheric pressure. 3. The method of renovating emulsified, contaminated, journal box, lubricating oil which has been used With waste, which includes mixing the oil with an alkaline solution of strength sufficient to break the emulsion and react with contaminations includ- `ing lint and projecting water on the surface of the oil after subsidence of the mixture to travel downwardly therethrough.

4. The method of renovating emulsified, contaminated, journal box, lubricating oil which has been used with Waste which includes mixing the oil with an alkaline solution of strength suflicient to break the emulsion and react with 'contaminations including lint and heating the mixture under pressure greater than atmospheric to a temperature in the neighborhood of that of steam at 0 to 5 lbs. fessure.I

5. The method o renovatin emulsified, contaminated, journal box, lu ricating oil which has been used With Waste which includes mixing the oil with an alkaline solu-` tion of strength sutlicient to break the emulsion and react with contaminations including lint, heating the mixture under pressure greater than atmospheric to a temperature in the neighborhood of that of steam at 0 to 5 lbs. pressure, and projectingwater on the surface of the oil after subsidence of the mixture to travel downwardly' there-l through., l

6.' The method of renovating emulsiied, contaminated, journal box, lubricating oil which has been used with waste'which inl11 cludes mixing the oil with an alkaline solution of strength sutlicient to break the emulsion and react with contaminations including lint and passing water through the oil after subsidence of the mixture. `113 7 The method of renovatin emulsied, contaminated, journal box, luricating oil which has been used with waste, which inv cludes treating the oil with a solution of. caustic soda in water the strength of which is sufficient to break the emulsion and react With contaminations including lint and projecting water on the surface of the oil after subsidence of the mixtureto travel downwardly therethrough. c

8. The method of renovating emulsied, contaminate-d, journal box, lubricating oil which has been used with Waste which includestreating the oil with a solution of caustic soda in water the strengthjof which 130 morera is sueient to break the emulsion and react with contaminations including lint, separating the renovated oil 'from contaminations and then passing the oil through a body of water. u

9. The method of renovating emulsiied, contaminated, journal box, lubricating oil which has been used with waste which in-l ing lint, separating the renovated oil from contaminations and then passing the oil through a body of Water.

11. The method of renovating emulsified, contamina-ted, journal box, lubricating oil which has been used with waste which includes mixing the oil with an alkaline solution of strength sucient to break the emulsion and reactwith contaminations including lint, projecting Water onto the surface of the oil'after subsidence of the mixture to travel downwardly therethrough, separatin the renovated oil from contaminations an then passing the oil throu h a body of Water.

12. The method o renovating emulsiied contaminated, journal box, lubricating oi Which has been. used with waste which in-v cludes treating the oil with a solution of caustic soda in 'water the strength of which is sucientto break the emulsion and react with contaminations including lint and heating the mass under pressure greater than atmospheric to a temperature in the neighborhood 'of that of steam at 0 to 5 lbs. pressure.

13. The method of renovating emulsiied, contaminated, car journal, lubricatin oil which has been used with Waste whic 'includes treating the oil by mixing therewith an alkaline solution of strength sulcient to break the emulsion and react with .contaminations including lint, the treatment being conducted for a period under pressure greater than atmospheric, reducing the pressure after said period and separating renovated oil from contaminations.

14. The method of renovating emulsiiied, contaminated, car journal, Vlubricating oil which has been used with waste which includes treating the oil with a solution of caustic soda in Water the strength of which is suiiicient to break the emulsion and react with contaminations including lint, the treatment being conducted for a period under pressure greater than atmospheric, reducing the pressure after said period and separating renovated oil from contaminations.

15. The method of renovating emulsified, contaminated, car journal, lubricating oil which has been used with waste which includes treating the oil by mixing therewith an alkaline solution of strength suiicient to break the emulsion and react with contaminations including lint, the treatment being conducted at a temperature in the neighborhood of that of steam at 0 to 5 lbs. pressure and 'for a period under pressure greater than atmospheric, reducing the pressure after said period and separating renovated oil from contaminations.

16. The method of renovating emulsiied. contaminated, car journal, lubricating oil which has been used with waste which in-4 cludes treating the oil with a solution of caustic soda in Water the strength of which is suiicient to break the emulsion and react with contaminations including lint, the treatment being conducted at a temperature in the neighborhood of that of steam at O to 5 lbs. pressure and for a period under pressure greater than atmospheric, reducing the pressure after said period and separating renovated oil from contaminations.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

LEONARD D. GRISBAUM. 

